12:30 pm: Appointment for facial.

12:40 pm: Catch taxi in SoHo.

1:00 pm: Enter Gloss Day Spa on the Upper East Side.

Late. Really late...

I hate being late for any appointment, but I really hate being late for a spa appointment. Being late is disrespectful to the spa. It puts them in an awkward position with treatment rooms and staff. Being late is also disrespectful to me because it means I will arrive rushed and stressed. I will have shortchanged myself because the treatment will end at the scheduled time for the full price regardless of when I arrive.

However, when we entered Gloss Day Spa, we were immediately put at ease. Amid our flurry of apologies, Dana, the owner, calmly took our coats, invited us to sit down in the cozy waiting area. Fortunately for us, the appointments immediately following ours were not booked, so we could have our full treatments. Dana gave us time to relax a little and offered us water - plain or with Pure Inventions Green Tea extract, a concentration of green tea equivalent to 12-15 cups of regularly brewed green tea with increased antioxident benefits. We both tried the green tea version. Dana placed a dropper full in our bottles. It had a very pleasant taste. I started to relax.

After a few minutes, Danuta escorted me to the treatment room for my facial. She took a look at my skin and declared it to be dehydrated - not surprising with all the flights I had taken in the preceeding weeks. The facial would hydrate as well as start to repair capilaries and whiten areas of hyperpigmentation. Under a light steam, she cleansed impurities from my skin. She applied a nonabrasive exfoliant mask. While it worked, she massaged my hands. Off came the mask. A few extractions followed. While the hydrating mask worked, Danuta massaged my neck and shoulders. When it was all done, my face felt very soft. Danuta recommended products for home care from the Carole Franck and Matisse lines. The spa is also caries Lucrèce.

Gloss Day Spa is a petit 850 square feet with four treatment rooms - one for laser teeth whitening, one for airbrush body bronziing and two for facials. The spa lists treatments offered in their "gloss"ary: laser teeth whitening, airbrush body bronzing with optional "Bronze Star" exfoliation, massage, body wrap massage and facials for women, men and teens. Facials come in a number of star-themed varieties - "Silver Star," "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," “Gold Star,” "Super Star," "Single Star," "Starlight, Starbright," "Twin Star" and "Five Star." An Organic Fruit and Vegetable Facial is offered with customized fresh fruit facial masks made to order and blended on the spot for every skin type using fresh organic fruits, herbs and essential oils. Microdermabrasion, amino acid treatment and aromatherapy are available to enhance facials. Waxing is offered from head to toe and includes the Designer Bikinis “Sexy Star,” a Brazilian bikini wax, and “Porn Star,” a “dare to be bare” wax, both with a signature “gloss” rhinestone star. Express services provide a 30 minute or less version of most of the spa's offerings.

A number of packages combine treatments including The "MicroStar" ( deep cleansing facial, microdermabrasion, upper body massage, complimentary eye or face cream), The “Hollywood Star" (laser teeth whitening and airbrush body bronzing session), The "Stellar Star" (silver star facial, full body exfoliation, body bronzing session), "Rising Star" teenage package (customized facial, upper body massage, hand and foot massage, complimentary skin care kit), "Reach For The Stars" (laser teeth whitening, deep cleansing facial, full body exfoliation, airbrush body bronzing session) and "Cupids Star" couples package (deep cleansing facials, upper body massages, full body exfoliations, airbrush body bronzing sessions, complimentary "star" bag filled with gloss certificates and skin care products).

Customized bridal packagesare offered as well as an on-site wedding planner who provides image consultation and style suggestions for the bride, her entourage and the groom. "Bridal Star" offers a 12-month skin care regimen for the bride. "Bridal Belle" provides 6 months to sensational skin. "Bridal Bootcamp" is 4 weeks of spa treatments to remain calm, cool and collected. "Runaway Bride" offers a number of spa services on the same day. "Bride's Best Friend" honor the maid of honor with a day of delight. "Here Comes the Bridesmaid" gives the bridesmaids a gift of relaxation and rejuvenation. "Groom Getaway" helps th groom relax, rest and feel refreshed. Customized packages can also be created.

Gloss Day Spa offers all six varieties of Pure Inventions Green Tea extract in their retail area as well as Carole Franck, Matisse, Lucrèce and their own line of lotions. Gift baskets are available.

For my next spa appointment, I will make sure I arrive for with lots of time to spare, so I can relax and quiet my mind before the treatment starts. The next spa I arrive late to may not be as kind and understanding as Gloss Day Spa.